Kwara seals six facilities over noise pollution

By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has commenced an enforcement exercise, sealing six facilities across the state due to their failure to comply with noise pollution regulations.

This action is part of the state's efforts to address the challenges posed by excessive and unnecessary noise, particularly in residential areas.

The Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, stated that the government could no longer tolerate the discomfort caused to the public by commercial noise generation.

Speaking during the enforcement, the Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, noted that the Ministry receives numerous reports and complaints daily.

"We have been very diplomatic with business owners whose object of trade revolves around generating noise, but we can no longer marry that with the discomfort it creates for members of the public, especially within residential areas," she said.

Dr. Ayinla added that folding our arms may mean endorsement, so we have commenced the sealing of the relevant facilities where noise levels exceed acceptable limits in the immediate vicinity.

Commissioner Buge advised that businesses that operate with loud noise should prepare well, sound-proof their facilities, or stay within the stipulated guidelines previously communicated to their managers.

She stressed that the sealing of the six facilities marks the beginning of a continuous exercise that will proceed until a desirable level of compliance is achieved across the state.

The Ministry urged members of the public and religious bodies to adhere strictly to the established noise level controls, which should not exceed 55 decibels in the daytime and 40 decibels at night. This adherence, she concluded, is crucial for public health and general well-being.